Naomi Osaka Reveals the Success Myth She Once Believed — And Why She Changed Her Mind

Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, once believed that success meant saying yes to everything. Over the years, however, she has come to see that perspective differently.

As the new ambassador for Olly’s Mental Health Awareness Month campaign, Osaka shared her insights on setting boundaries, managing fatigue, and the myth of success she once embraced. In a personal essay for Fortune, she wrote,

"I used to think success meant saying yes to everything that came with it. Now I see it differently. I’ve been able to achieve what I have by holding boundaries."

Osaka reflected on her decision to withdraw from the 2021 French Open to prioritize her mental well-being.

"That moment stands out for me because it opened my eyes to something I hadn’t fully let myself see: you don’t always have to do things that people expect from you,"

The tennis star has been an outspoken advocate for mental health. After her high-profile withdrawal from the French Open, she wrote an essay for Time detailing the backlash she faced. Osaka criticized the scrutiny she endured, including pressure to disclose her personal medical history.

"In any other line of work, you would be forgiven for taking a personal day here and there, so long as it’s not habitual. You wouldn’t have to divulge your most personal symptoms to your employer; there would likely be HR measures protecting at least some level of privacy."

Since becoming a mother in 2023, Osaka has found it easier to establish boundaries. She explained that protecting herself now extends to safeguarding her daughter’s well-being.

"There’s this idea that ‘doing it all’ is something women should aspire to, and I don’t think that should be glorified. You can’t be everything to everyone without losing something of yourself. Sometimes it’s actually kinder to say no."

Osaka also discussed the pressures she faced early in her career. In 2019, after winning the Australian Open at age 21, she told Fast Company that the stakes felt higher.

"If I lost a match, it became news everywhere, and I would pay more attention to my losses. They were harder to get over. Sometimes, I got depressed during practices and [felt] like there were a lot of expectations on me. I started to question my ability, which I had never really done before. I have a tendency to shut down in those moments. It’s hard to keep having fun playing tennis."

Today, Osaka prioritizes listening to her mind and body. In her Fortune essay, she emphasized avoiding extremes when feeling overwhelmed or fatigued.

"As a professional athlete, I’m very in tune with my body. I’ve learned the difference between a good kind of tired and a deeper fatigue that means something is wrong."